More than 535 churches throughout Belgium have partnered with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) to hold an evangelism event in the capital city of Brussels on Sept. 27.
Veteran evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, and both president and chief executive officer of the BGEA, is scheduled to appear at the “Festival of Hope” at ING Arena.
The evangelistic event is anticipated by a similar Festival of Hope called “Pursuit” taking place earlier for Belgian youths at La Madeleine hall, also in Brussels, on Sept. 7.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to work together with the Flemish, Brussels, and Walloon churches,” said Franklin Graham. “We want to give people real and lasting hope and strengthen them in their faith.
“The solution to the world’s problems isn’t political—it’s spiritual—and I am looking forward to sharing the powerful message of God’s love that is for all of Belgium.”
More than 7,500 people from every region in Belgium have already booked on a fleet of buses to the ING Arena for the free-of-charge event.
These figures break down to 145 Dutch-speaking, 263 French-speaking, and 127 international church communities from all Belgian provinces and from Brussels participating in the Festival of Hope.
A total of 20 denominations are represented by the churches and Flemish and Walloon church leaders have been meeting together every month in anticipation of the festival. A press release by the BGEA stressed that “everyone is welcome to attend.”
“There is so much political and economic upheaval in our world right now. Belgium needs to hear a message of hope,” said David Vandeput, president of the Federal Synod.
“We are excited Rev. Graham has accepted the invitation from the denominational leaders in Belgium to come to Brussels.
“The Festival of Hope has already brought unprecedented unity to Christians in this country—bringing us together as one—but this hope and unity isn’t just for the church, it’s for every person, language, and culture in Belgium.”
A spokesman for the BGEA told Christian Daily International that despite Belgium’s struggles in being “deeply divided by language, culture, and so many other factors,” something “incredible” has been happening among churches, “that pastors have never seen before.”
“It is really encouraging and exciting,” he added.
Pursuit, the youth event, has been organised jointly by churches in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia working together. The aim is to create a youth-focused outreach designed to encourage young believers in Jesus Christ.
The Sept. 7 event is expected to bring large numbers of youths from across the country to La Madeleine in Brussels, where the “young Christians will be equipped and emboldened to share their faith with others,” according to the BGEA.
“We are seeing something remarkable. This is the first time in memory that so many evangelical churches throughout Belgium have worked together,” said Koen Maeyens, one of the organizers of Pursuit and the president of the Flemish Evangelical Alliance. “It’s transcending the differences in language and culture that sometimes divide Belgium, and it’s incredible to see.”
Franklin Graham’s appearance in Brussels comes 50 years after his father Billy appeared in the city to preach the gospel in July 1975.
Rev. Domenico Rampello, a pastor in the Brussels area, which is part of the Festival of Hope, recalled personally experiencing the life-changing message of hope in Jesus at the time that Billy Graham visited when Rampello was still a boy.
“When Franklin Graham’s father, Billy Graham, was in Brussels 50 years ago to preach at an event for several European countries, my parents took me there,” he said.
“Though I was only a boy in 1975, I vividly remember the event today. I haven’t always walked a straight path in my life. I’ve used drugs and even sold drugs. But at the age of 25, God called me back and that forever changed my life.”
Rampello is now pastoring La Providence church in Uccle to fulfil his calling in Christ. When he heard that Franklin Graham was visiting, the news stoked poignant and precious memories for him of when the older Graham visited all those years ago.
“When I learned Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, is coming to Brussels for our joint event, I relived that moment and was emotional,” said Rampello.
“It is so powerful to experience faith together and to know that you are not alone. It really does give hope and creates a lasting impression. I am excited for all of Belgium to have the opportunity to experience this for themselves on September 27.”
The Festival of Hope begins with live music at 6 p.m., featuring award-winning Christian artists Charity Gale and The Afters. More information is available at BillyGraham.org/Events/Festival-Of-Hope.
